Expansion Geelong Chief Calls For International Expansion - AGE

[bweagles]

The AFL want their cake, and to eat it too

Unless they can get instant return on investment (tv rights), they will not contribute

Seems that way. Viewing the game here is tough too, due to AFL being stingy with the TV rights.

I'm surprised so little support is going to established international leagues, like the one we have here in the US.

 

[Inferno]

Seems that way. Viewing the game here is tough too, due to AFL being stingy with the TV rights.

I'm surprised so little support is going to established international leagues, like the one we have here in the US.

Particularly considering the potential for recruits from basketball/gridiron college players who couldn't make it pro is far higher than in any other country besides maybe Ireland.

There's no reason why Aussie Rules couldn't be a niche sport in the US rather than a borderline non-existent one.

 

[Pessimistic]

Maybe the upcoming womens competition, which will be less than two months, will whet the tv appetite for other televised competitions which aren't AFL, shown in a similar format in the off-season

Use the womens comp as a blueprint, have ex afl players involved for interest. Year round Aus Footy. it will happen.

Timezones -
Anything in asia could be broadcast back at the same time

Europe/Aftica is ~10 to 6 hours behind so morning/afternoon games could be evening primetime in Aus

North america is ~18 to 14 hours behind so Night games could be broadcast here in luchtime to afternoon timeslot the next day

Talking weekends here obviously

 

[SgtSchulz]

Cough China Cough

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Maybe the upcoming womens competition, which will be less than two months, will whet the tv appetite for other televised competitions which aren't AFL, shown in a similar format in the off-season

Use the womens comp as a blueprint, have ex afl players involved for interest. Year round Aus Footy. it will happen.

Timezones -
Anything in asia could be broadcast back at the same time

Europe/Aftica is ~10 to 6 hours behind so morning/afternoon games could be evening primetime in Aus

North america is ~18 to 14 hours behind so Night games could be broadcast here in luchtime to afternoon timeslot the next day

Talking weekends here obviously

The women's game is what has the best chance to take the game internationally in a reasonable time frame ie a decade or two. If you played a game between the best women's players in Oz vs the best Canadians and also vs the best Americans, the gap between the Oz team and international teams would be a lot closer than if you repeated it with the men's yes AFL vs the amateurs in Ireland or US or Canada or NZ or PNG. But you would have to have a decent structure thru the colleges and universities to develop the women's game in North America. Ie plough in some decent $$. Just look at what has happened at the Olympics re the US and Canadian women Rugby Sevens and how quickly they caught up to the powerhouse rugby nations. That gap between the men's game in Rugby Sevens can't be breached as quickly as it can be in the women's version. Just look at women's soccer in USA vs mens soccer. The women start world cups and Olympics expecting to win the title, the men's team hopes to be good enough to make it out of the group phase.

 

[Randomizor]

Seems that way. Viewing the game here is tough too, due to AFL being stingy with the TV rights.

I'm surprised so little support is going to established international leagues, like the one we have here in the US.

Do you play for the Baltimore Eagles?

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

The women's game is what has the best chance to take the game internationally in a reasonable time frame ie a decade or two. If you played a game between the best women's players in Oz vs the best Canadians and also vs the best Americans, the gap between the Oz team and international teams would be a lot closer than if you repeated it with the men's yes AFL vs the amateurs in Ireland or US or Canada or NZ or PNG. But you would have to have a decent structure thru the colleges and universities to develop the women's game in North America. Ie plough in some decent $$. Just look at what has happened at the Olympics re the US and Canadian women Rugby Sevens and how quickly they caught up to the powerhouse rugby nations. That gap between the men's game in Rugby Sevens can't be breached as quickly as it can be in the women's version. Just look at women's soccer in USA vs mens soccer. The women start world cups and Olympics expecting to win the title, the men's team hopes to be good enough to make it out of the group phase.

Some truth in that, but also the fact that sevens and association football are Olympic sports gives some impetus for funding to come from sources other than the sports themselves. They also give players an incentive Australian Football will never give, the Olympics.
But, yes, there is scope for the womens game to be closer to Australian standard in other nations than there is for the men. Maybe a few draftees to the womens league, also depending how quickly the womens game improves here now talented women have a pathway.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

India would be perfect, massive population most of whom are sports mad (for cricket anyway), lots of cricket grounds, climate would be a stumbling block though

 

[MightyHawks]

India would be perfect, massive population most of whom are sports mad (for cricket anyway), lots of cricket grounds, climate would be a stumbling block though

Well if we renamed our sport Aussie Rules Cricket we might be able to fool some Indians into watching it

Just need to nail the team names

 

[Frank Gallagher]

Well if we renamed our sport Aussie Rules Cricket we might be able to fool some Indians into watching it

Just need to nail the team names

Have a few exibition games over there and get word out Tendulker will be signing autographs during the game, packed houses baby!!

 

[MightyHawks]

Have a few exibition games over there and get word out Tendulker will be signing autographs during the game, packed houses baby!!

We could relocate Richmond and form the Tendulkar Tigers

 

[The_Wookie]

Even a small increase in funding would go a long way in some of these places.

 

[Atomboy]

India would be perfect, massive population most of whom are sports mad (for cricket anyway), lots of cricket grounds, climate would be a stumbling block though

India has a National Carnival every year in January which attracts 150+ participants from 5 states. The team from Mumbai travels 36 hours to take part.

Seems incidental but the game locally is run by locals, for locals, with zero assistance from the AFL or Aussie expats. Would be interesting to see what could happen with even a tiny bit of financial support for them.

India has the ovals, balls and kit manufactured locally alongside the obvious footy-cricket link. Bombers have done a bit of work in India over the past couple of years. Awesome video here by the club: http://haydc-cdn220-pe-1.se.bponlin...Sifo/1/2015-07/775195/EFC-1024-2393183648.mp4

Seems a more obvious choice than China.....

 

[Frank Gallagher]

India has a National Carnival every year in January which attracts 150+ participants from 5 states. The team from Mumbai travels 36 hours to take part.

Seems incidental but the game locally is run by locals, for locals, with zero assistance from the AFL or Aussie expats. Would be interesting to see what could happen with even a tiny bit of financial support for them.

India has the ovals, balls and kit manufactured locally alongside the obvious footy-cricket link. Bombers have done a bit of work in India over the past couple of years. Awesome video here by the club: http://haydc-cdn220-pe-1.se.bponlin...Sifo/1/2015-07/775195/EFC-1024-2393183648.mp4

Seems a more obvious choice than China.....

Biggest kicker is Soccer hasn't taken a hold there, s**t, no football code has, it's pretty much cricket and hockey.